Apparatus for extracting grease from wool.



No. 654,530. Patented July 24, I900. W. ERBEN.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GREASE FROM WOOL. (Application flleA Kay 14,1900.!

2 Sheets-Shoat (No Moqel.)

THE uanms' versus cw, PNOTO-LITHUE..WKSHINGTON, n. c

Patented July 24, I900.

' W. ERBEN. APPARATUS FOREXTRAOTING GREASE FROM WOOL.

(Application filed III-y 14, 1800.)

2 Sheets-Shaat 2 (llo- Modal.)

xinxlulsumu THE NORRIE virus :0. Pam-ammo, WASHINGTON, n. c.

tries,

WALTER ERBEN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACT'lNG GREASE FROM WOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,530, dated July 24,1906.

Original application filed April 26, 1898, Serial No.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER ERBEN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in'Apparatus for Extracting Grease from Wool, (the samebeing a division of the invention forming the subject of my application,Serial No. 678,874, filed April 26, 1898,) of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide economical and efficientapparatus for the extraction of grease from wool by the action of aliquid solvent of the grease, such as naphtha, an object which I attainin the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammaticrepresentation of apparatus adapted for use in carrying out myinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View, on a larger scale, of theextracting vessel. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a vaporizerforming part of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional viewof a condenser for the naphtha-vapor.

The extraction of grease from wool by means of naphtha or equivalentsolvent of grease has been many times proposed, but has not, so far as Iam aware, been extensively used, one of the objections to the processbeing the highly-inflammable character of the solvent, another being thedifliculty of removing all traces of the solvent from the wool after thegrease has been extracted therefrom, and still another being theexpensive character of the apparatus designed for carrying out theprocess.

My invention consists of apparatus designed with the view of reducingtoa minimum the risk of fire due to the use of the inflammable solvent,the complete elimination of the solvent from the wool after theextraction of the grease, and the utilization of the potash salts in thewool as an aid in the washing of the same.

In the diagrammatic representation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, 1 is the extracting vessel; 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, tanks forcontaining the naphtha or other solvent which is employed; 7, avacuum-pump; 8, a water-pump; 9, a reservoir containing water or otherliquid of a greater specific gravity 678,874. Divided and thisapplication filed May 14, 1900. $erial No. 16,624, (No nmcleL.

than the solvent and of a character to render it available in thewashing of wool; 10 and 11, Vaporizers for the solvent, and 12 acondenser for the same.

To simplify the description, I will hereinafter allude to the solventsimply as naphtha and to the contents of the reservoir 9 as water. i

The construction of the extractor Will be understood on reference toFig. 2, the body 1 having at the bottom a projecting cylinder 60,containing a ram or plunger 61, which carries a presser-head, fittingsnugly within the body 1 of the extractor and comprising a perforatedplate 62, which is mounted upon a hub 63 at the top of the plunger 61and upon ribs or arms 64 projecting therefrom. The top of the extractor1 is closed by a cap or cover 65, which has a depending perforated plate66, and around the top of the extractor is an annular chamber 67, whichis in communication with the interior of the extractor through theperforated plate 66 and channels 90 between the same and the cap 65.Fluid under pressure can be supplied to the cylinder from a high-pressure pump 68 through a pipe 69.

Each of the Vaporizers Hand 11 has in the upper portion a perforatedplate or diaphragm 70 and beneath the same a steam-coil 71, so

that liquid entering the upper portion of the condenser passes throughthe perforated plate 70 and falls in the form of a spray or shower uponthe steam-coil, which serves to vaporize the more volatile portions ofthe liquid, the vapor escaping at the top of the vaporizer and theliquid accumulating in the lower portion of the latter, from which itcan be drawn off as required through the pipe 72.

The condenser 12 contains a coil 73 and is provided with pipes 74: and75, wherebya constant flow of water or other cooling agent through thesame can be maintained.

The system has four main pipes 80, 81, 82, and 83, the main 80communicating with the chamber 67 of the extractor and having threevalves 13,1t, and 15, while the main 81 communicates with the lower endof the extractor and has three valves 16, 17, and 18. The main 82constitutes a suction-main of the pump 8 and I has valves 38 and 40, themain 83 constituting the discharge or pressure main from said pump andhaving three valves 37, 39, and 50. The main 8O communicates with theupper portion of each of the solvent-receptacles 2, 3, 4, and throughbranches having valves 20, 22, 24, and 26, and the main 81 likewisecommunicates with the upper portion of each of these solvent-receptaclesthrough branches having valves 19, 21, 23, and 25. The main 81 alsocommunicates with the solvent-receptacle 6 and is in communication withthe vacuum-pump 7 at a point between the valves 17 and 18 through abranch having a valve 27, said vacuum-pump being also in communicationwith the main 80 at a point between the valves 14 and through a branchhaving a valve 28. The main 8O communicates with the Vaporizers 10 and11 through branches which are respectively provided with valves 43 and44, and the vapor-pipe of each vaporizer communicates with the condenserthrough branches which are respectively provided with valves 45 and46,the condenser-coil communicating with the solvent-receptacle 6through a pipe having a valve 47. The suction-main 82 of the pumpcommunicates with the lower portion of each of the solventreceptacles 2,3, 4, 5, and 6 through branches which are respectively provided withvalves 29, 31, 33, 35, and 42, and said main also communicates with thewater-receptacle 9 through a branch having a valve 41. The pressure-main83 of the pump communicates with the upper portion of the water vessel 9and also with the lower portion of the solventreceptacles 2, 3, 4, and 5through branches provided, respectively, with valves 30, 32, 34, and 36,and said main 83 is also in communication with the main 81 through apipe having a valve 51 and is in communication with the main 82 througha pipe having a valve 48. The suction-main 82 has at a point between thevalves 38 and 40 an inlet branch with valve 49, and the outlet-pipe 72of the vaporizer 11 communicates with said main 82 through a valve 52and also communicates with the water vessel 9 through a branch having avalve 53.

In the following description of the operation of the apparatus it shouldbe understood that all the valves not specifically referred to as beingopen are closed.

The extractor is filled with wool while the presser-head is at thebottom of the extractor, and the cap or cover plate being then appliedand secured in place the valves 13, 14, 27, and 28 are opened, thevacuum-pump is put in operation, and a partial vacuum is produced in theextractor by the operation of said pump, after which the valves 14, 27,and 28 are closed. The valves 13, 16, 19, 30, 50, 37, 40, and 41 beingopen, the water-pump is put in operation, and water drawn from thereceptacle 9 is forced into the lowerportion of the solvent-receptacle2, so that the solvent is caused to flow therefrom into the extractorunder the combined influence of the partial vacuum therein and theinflowing volume of water, which, being of greater specific gravity thanthe solvent, retains its position in the lower portion of thereceptacle. The extractor being filled with solvent, the valves arereadjusted, the valves 20, 21, 29, 32, 37, 38, and 50 being open, sothat the water may be withdrawn from the receptacle 2 and forced intothe receptacle 3, thereby driving the solvent from the latter into theextractor and forcing the solvent contained in the lat ter back into thereceptacle 2, and in like manner the solvent from the successivereceptacles can be forced into the extractor, if such operation isnecessary, in order to effect thecomplete extraction of the grease fromthe wool contained therein, or instead of returning the solvent, withthe grease in solution therein, to the separate receptacles 2, 3, 4, and5 it maybe passed directly to the vap-. orizer 10 by opening the valves14, 15, and 43, the vaporized solvent being conducted to the condenserand from the latter conveyed to the receptacle 6, from which it can bereturned to any desired one of the receptacles 2, 3, 4, and 5 throughthe main 81, the water being withdrawn from each receptacle as thesolvent is forced into the same and the solvent being forced from thereceptacle 6 by the water-pressure from the main 83 on opening valves39, 42, and 48. When the grease has been sufficiently extracted from thewool, the pump 68 is started and fluid under pressure is introduced intothe cylinder 60, so as to force upward the ram 61 and pressureheadcarried thereby, thereby subjecting the wool in the extractor topressure sufficient to express from it the greater portion of thesolvent contained in it, and the valves 16, 38, 40, and 41 and thevalves in branches of the mains 81 and 82, leading to one of thereceptacles 2, 3, 4, or 5, being open said solvent finds its way throughthe main 81 and valved branches to said solvent-receptacle. The flowmay, if desired, be aided by positively drawing off Water from thedesired solventreceptacle by means of the pump 8 instead of merelypermitting the water to flow from the receptacle, or a partial vacuummay be produced in the receptacle by means of the vacuum-pump 7, inwhich case the discharge of said pump should be led to the condenser 12,so as to condense any solvent vapor therein. When the fluid underpressure is permitted to escape from the cylinder 60, the presser-headwill descend in the extractor, thereby permitting the wool to againexpand, and the valves 13, 14, 15, 16, 37, 40, 41, 44, 46, and 51 beingopened water is pumped into the extractor, and after passing through thewool contained therein is conveyed to the vaporizer 11, the solventbeing vaporized and passing to the condenser 12, while water flows fromthe vaporizer, either directly into the main 82 through the valve 52 ofthe pipe 72 or into the water-receptacle 9 through the branch pipehaving a valve 53, to be again pumped through the extractor, or if thewaterbecomes too hot for this purpose the valve 49 in the supplementarysuction-pipe may be opened and cold water may be supplied to theextractor, the surplus water escaping from the vessel 9 through asuitable overflow. After the wool has been sufficiently washed fluidunder pressure is again admitted to the cylinder 60, so as to raise thepresser head in the extractor and express from the wool the surpluswater contained therein, after which the presser-head can be lowered,the cap-plate removed, and the presser-head then again raised, so as toeject the cleaned and partially-dried wool from the extractorpreparatoryto the insertion of a new supply of wool and a repetition ofthe operation. The passage of the water through the wool contained inthe extractor effects not only the removal of the remaining naphthatherefrom, but also the washing of the wool, the potash salts containedin the wool materially facilitating this latter operation, and owing tothis thorough Washing of the wool and to the expressing of the surpluswater from the same after the washing has been completed the wool isdelivered from the extractor clean, almost dry, and wholly free from anytraces of naphtha. 7

Although I have described the use of two Vaporizers 10 and 11, one forseparating the naphtha from the grease and the other for separating thenaphtha from the water, the same vaporizer may be used for bothpurposes, if desired.

The tank 6 is by preference provided with two check-valves, one openingoutward and the other opening inward, so as to permit escape of air whenthe naphtha is fiowing into the tank and the inflow of air when naphthais being withdrawn therefrom. The tank is the only element of the entireapparatus from which any naphtha-vapor can possibly escape, and as itcan be located at any desired point remote from the building in whichthe treatment of the wool takes place there is -no danger whatever offire due to the presence of naphtha-vapor, the use of water or otherliquid as a means of forcing the naphtha through the extractor and otherparts of the apparatus preventing the formation of any explosive orinflammable vapor within any of the other tanks.

Theexpressing of the surplus naphtha from the wool by pressure after theextraction of the grease very materially facilitates the freeing of thewool from the naphtha, as only a small percentage of the latter remainsto be removed by washing. Hence the time necessary to treat the batch ofwool is materially reduced, as compared with thetime required incarrying out a process in which washing or vaporization alone isresorted to for freeing the'wool from the naphtha after the grease hasbeen extracted, while the expressing of the surplus water from the woolafter the washing operation enables me to deliver the wool in acondition best suited for subsequent scouring. I

Certain features of the process herein set forth form the subject ofapplications for patent filed by me on the 29th day of January, 1900,Serial No. 3,223, and on the 14th day of May, 1900, Serial No. 16,623.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patcut- 1. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by meansof liquid solvent, the combination of the extractor having fluid inletand outlet, and a receiving-chamber at one end, a detachable cap havingchannels communicating with said chamber, a perforated plate coveringsaid channels and forming a bearin g for the wool, and a false bottommovable in the extractor and serving to compress the wool against saidperforated plate, substantially as specified.

2. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of liquidsolvent, the combination of the extracting vessel with fluid in let andoutlet, a false bottom movable so as to compress the wool in theextractor, and a detachable cap having a perforated plate against whichthe wool is compressed, said plate being offset from the cover,substantially as specified.

3. In apparatus for extracting grease from wool by means of a liquidsolvent, the combination of the extractor having an annularreceiving-chamber at the top, a false bottom, a stem extending downwardfrom the false bottom of the extractor so as to constitute a ram for themovement of the false bottom by fluid-pressure, and a cap withperforated plate and space above the same through which liquid can passfrom the interior of the extractor into the annular receiving-chamber atthe top of the same, substantially as specie fied.

l. The combination in apparatus for extracting grease from wool by meansof liquid solvent, of an extractor, a solvent tank, communicationbetween the upper portion of said tank and the extractor, awater-reservoir, a pump, and connections so disposed that said pump candraw water from said reservoir and force it. into the lower portion ofthe solvent: tank, substantially as specified.

5. The combination in apparatusfor extracting grease from wool by meansof liquid solvent, of an extractor, a solvent-tank, communicationbetween said tank and the extractor, and provision for forcing waterinto the lower portion of the solvent-tank and into the extractor,substantially as specified.

6. The combination in apparatus for extracting grease from wool by meansof liquid,

solvent, of an extractor, a solvent-tank, communication between saidsolvent-tank and the extractor, a false bottom in the extractor, acylinder having a ram for operating the same, provision for forcingwater into the. lower portion of the solvent-tank, and means for forcingwater into said ram-cylinder, substantially as specified.

7. The combination in apparatus for extracting grease from wool by meansof liquid solvent, of the extractor, a solventtank, a communicationbetween said solvent -tank and the extractor, a pump having an inletcommunicating with a water vessel, and a dis charge-pipe communicatingwith the lower portion of said solvent-tank, and provision whereby thewater may be permitted to escape from the solvent-tank, substantially asspecified.

8. The combination in apparatus for extracting grease from wool by meansof liquid solvent, of an extractor, a solvent-tank, communicationbetween said solvent-tank and the extractor, a vacuum-pump communicatingwith the extractor, and a liquid-pump having a discharge-pipecommunicating with the lower portion of said solvent-tank,substantracting grease from wool by means of liquid solvent, of anextractor, a solvent-distribut in g tank communicating with the inlet ofsaid extractor, an outlet-pipe from the extractor communicating with avaporizer, a condenser for receiving the vapor from said vaporizer,

a solvent-receiving tank into which said condenser discharges, aconnection between said solvent-receiving tank and thesolvent-distributing tank, and provision for forcing water into orwithdrawing it from the lower portion of said solvent-distributing tank,substantially as specified.

11. The combination in apparatus for extracting grease from wool bymeans of liquid solvent, of the extractor, a pump having adischarge-pipe communicating with the inlet of said extractor, avaporizer communicating WALTER ERBEN.

Witnesses:

F. E. BEGHTOLD, J 0s. H. KLEIN.

